Note on spelling

In English the word is spelled draught in some senses and draft in others. Draught beer, draught horse, draught meaning a current of air or a ship's minimum depth of water to float, and the game draughts all retain the older spelling draught. The simplified spelling draft is used for a plan or sketch, for a preliminary version of a document and for the verb meaning to write it, for an order of payment, and for military conscription (although this last meaning is not as common as in American English). In the USA the spelling is draft in all these cases.